050916 - U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide and urging Turkey to end its decades long.....

September 15, 2005
** BREAKING NEWS ** BREAKING NEWS **
HOUSE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE OVERWHELMINGLY ADOPTS ARMENIAN GENOCIDE LEGISLATION

International Relations Committee Chairman and Ranking Democrat Lead Strong Bipartisan Majority in Approving H.Res.316 and H.Con.Res.195

Passage Comes Despite the Strident Opposition from Turkish Embassy, The Livingston Group, and American Turkish Council
WASHINGTON, DC - Following almost three hours of remarks by a bipartisan group of 24 Members of Congress, the House International Relations Committee, today, voted in favor of two measures calling for proper U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide and urging Turkey to end its decades long denial of this crime against humanity, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA). The votes clear yet another hurdle toward full House recognition of the Armenian Genocide.
"We are very gratified by the House International Relations Committee's broad bipartisan support for today's action towards U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide," stated ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian. "The Armenian American community deeply appreciates the leadership of Representatives George Radanovich (R-CA), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) and the support of all our friends on the panel. As we work to build on the Committee's favorable action, we look to Speaker Hastert to honor his pledge and to schedule a full floor vote on Armenian Genocide legislation at the earliest opportunity."
Rep. Adam Schiff, a lead cosponsor of H.Res.316 and author of H.Con.Res.195 opened the Committee's discourse on both resolutions. Commenting on Turkey's
ongoing denial of the Armenian Genocide, Rep. Schiff stated, "Ankara's behavior is as inexplicable as it is shameful. Turkey bears responsibility for its decades of denial and for compounding the suffering of the Armenian people by attempting to blame the victims for the crime." Rep. Schiff also recognized three Armenian Genocide survivors -- Mrs. Rose Baboyan, Yeretzgeen Sirarpi Khoyan and Mrs. Lusazine Tatarian -- whose presence at the hearing was arranged by the ANC Washington DC chapter.
In his concluding remarks, Chairman Hyde responded to arguments that passage of the Genocide resolutions could potentially harm U.S. - Turkey relations. While noting that, "I very much believe the [U.S.-Turkey] relationship is of great importance to us," Rep. Hyde stated, "I don't believe that these resolutions will harm that relationship. They merely recognize the fact that the authorities of the Ottoman Empire deliberately slaughtered the majority of the Armenian community in that Empire." Rep. Hyde went on to note that "denial of that fact cannot be justified on the basis of expediency or fear speaking the truth will do us harm."

In all, twenty-four Members of the International Relations Committee spoke on the measures, with twenty-one voicing support for Congressional recognition of the Armenian Genocide and three speaking against. The speakers represented a broad bi-partisan spectrum of the Committee, with 15 democrats and 9 Republicans voicing their positions on the issue.Both H.Res.316 and H.Con.Res.195 were adopted by overwhelming margins of 40 to 7 and 35 to 11, respectively. The complete vote tallies will be provided on the Armenian National Committee of America website -- www.anca.org. more. . .
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